Final answer:
The respiratory quotient (RQ) measures the ratio of CO2 production to O2 consumption. The RQ varies depending on the fuel source, and for glucose, it is 1.0. For fat and protein, the RQ is lower, around 0.7-0.8.
Step-by-step explanation:
The respiratory quotient (RQ) measures the ratio of carbon dioxide (CO2) production to oxygen (O2) consumption. In general, the RQ varies between 0.7 and 1.0, depending on the fuel source being metabolized. For every 10 molecules of O2 consumed, the number of molecules of CO2 produced will depend on which fuel source is being used.
In the case of glucose, which is the primary fuel source for the body, the RQ is 1.0. This means that for every mole of O2 consumed, one mole of CO2 is produced.
If we consider protein and fat as fuel sources, the RQ is lower. On average, the RQ is about 0.7 for fat and about 0.8 for protein. This means that for every mole of O2 consumed, 0.7-0.8 moles of CO2 are produced.